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KLUNK

2002 Nissan Sentra

The Verdict

40 Proceed with Caution

The 2002 Nissan Sentra has 333 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. The most reported issues are engine (169 complaints) and electrical (78 complaints). With a Klunk Score of 40/100, it earns a "Proceed with Caution" rating. If you're shopping for a Nissan Sentra, consider the 2023 model year which has 94% fewer complaints.

Safe Bet

The 2023 has 94% fewer complaints

View the 2023 Nissan Sentra dashboard →

40

Klunk Score: Proceed with Caution

About average for complaint volume. Research the specific issues before buying.

How is this calculated?

The Klunk Score ranks this vehicle year against all others in our database based on total owner complaints filed with NHTSA. 100 = fewest complaints (top tier), 0 = most complained-about. Scores above 60 are better than average; below 40 means more problems than most.

Recalls 2

Active safety recalls from NHTSA for this vehicle year.

02V056000 UNKNOWN OR OTHER

ON SOME PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A NISSAN-APPROVED ACCESSORY FLOOR MAT THAT WAS INSTALLED EITHER AT THE ASSEMBLY PLANT OR BY THE DEALER, DUE TO THE LENGTH OF THE DRIVER SIDE FLOOR MAT, A SM...

Risk

IF THIS OCCURS UNEXPECTEDLY, IT COULD LEAD TO A CRASH.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE DRIVER SIDE FLOOR MAT AND IF IT IS A NISSAN FLOOR MAT SUBJECT TO THIS RECALL, THE DEALER WILL REPLACE BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR MATS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BE...

Reported Apr 11, 2026

20V747000 AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2002-2006 Sentra vehicles whose passenger air bags were previously inspected and may have been released without replacing the Takata air bag...

Risk

An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy

Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the repair has been completed. Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will re-inspect the vehicle and, if necessary, replace the air bag inflat...

Reported Jan 12, 2020

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Under the Hood

Each number is a complaint. Darker = bigger problem.

YearBodyBrakesElectricalEngineTransmission
200047734817
20016121451117
200262107816914
2003163371176
2004188521136
20051912251104
200624435467
20075317403014
20084818533117
200916101892
2010271604412
20113613393815
2012475264755
2013668595117275
201453306375159
201561134977147
201643184658101
20174915485363
20184735342542
20195134662444
2020124243897
202158233374
20224342184
202372531
2024134644
2025172240

By Category

Engine
169
Electrical
78
Body
62
Transmission
14
Brakes
10

By Severity

1
145
2
156
3
2
4
30

Worst Problems

Compare Against

See how the 2002 Nissan Sentra stacks up against rivals.

Complaints

Electrical 2

The contact called regarding the ownership of the 2002 Nissan Sentra. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V008000 (Air Bags); and would like the address to be removed from the vehicle recall distribution list because the vehicle owner does not live at the contact’s address. The manufacturer was contacted.

4mo ago
Electrical 2

Unknown

16mo ago
Engine 1

THERE'S SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE COOLING SYSTEM WHEN I RECALL DATA REFRESHED ON NOV 04,2020 1UNREPAIRED RECALLS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS VIN JAN 09,2020 MANUFACTURER RECALL NUMBERPM684 NHTSA RECALL NUMBER20V-008 RECALL STATUSRECALL INCOMPLETE SUMMARY TAKATA HAS DETERMINED THAT A DEFECT RELATED TO MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY MAY ARISE IN SOME OF THE SUBJECT NON-DESICCATED AMMONIUM NITRATE INFLATORS DUE TO PROPELLANT DEGRADATION OCCURRING AFTER PROLONGED EXPOSURE TO HIGH ABSOLUTE HUMIDITY, HIGH TEMPERATURES AND HIGH TEMPERATURE CYCLING THIS CAR.

69mo ago
Engine 1

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN SENTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH OR STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE VEHICLE SHUTOFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT HAD AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC REPLACE THE FUEL PUMP, THE SPARK PLUGS, THE FUEL FILTER AND THE EXHAUST PIPES. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

70mo ago
Electrical 2

NO LONGER OWN THIS CAR

76mo ago
Engine 1

I WAS MADE AWARE RECENTLY( MARCH 2020) THAT THE CAM SENSOR IN MY CAR IS DEFECTIVE. THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS PART IN 2004. AFTER CONTACTING THE NISSAN CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS, THEY INFORM ME THAT THEIR RECORDS SHOW THE RECALL REMEDY WAS SATISFIED IN 2004. I DO NOT REMEMBER BRINGING THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP NOR DOES THE DEALERSHIP HAVE ANY RECORD THE RECALL WAS SATISFIED.

77mo ago
Electrical 2

TAKATA RECALL. WENT TO DEALERSHIP TO REPLACE THE RECALLED AIRBAG. THEY INSPECTED THE AIRBAG INFLATOR, SAID IT DOES NOT NEED TO BE REPLACED. THEY DID NOT DO ANY REPAIR OR REPLACEMENT WORK ON THE TAKATA AIRBAG DESPITE THE FACT THAT THE RECALL NOTIFICATION STATING THAT THE NISSAN DEALER WILL REPLACE THE AIR BAG INFLATOR WITH A NEW ONE. *DT VIN AVAILABLE *JB

91mo ago
Electrical 1

I WAS NOTIFIED OF AIR BAG RECALL BY NISSAN. I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND THEY AGREED TO FIX BUT WANTED ME TO RELEASE THEM OF RESPONSIBILITY IF THEY CRACKED MY DASH BOARD DURING THE REPAIR. I REFUSED TO GIVE PERMISSION TO DAMAGE MY VEHICLE. AS INSTRUCTED BY THE DEALERSHIP I CALLED 1800 NISSAN CONSUMER AFFAIRS AND REPORTED AND THEY ALSO CONFIRMED THEY COULD REPAIR BUT SAID I WOULD HAVE TO ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY DAMAGE CAUSED BY/DURING THE REPAIR. MY VEHICLE CURRENTLY IS NOT DAMAGED AND I REFUSE TO ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY DAMAGE THEY MAY CAUSE.

95mo ago
Electrical 1

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN SENTRA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 15V287000 (AIR BAGS) AND 07V527000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM); HOWEVER, THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO GET THE REMEDY PERFORMED DUE TO THE NEAREST DEALER BEING 600 MILES AWAY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE IN NOVEMBER OF 2017 AND STATED THAT THEY WOULD SEND OUT A TECHNICIAN TO PERFORM THE REPAIRS; HOWEVER, THERE HAS BEEN NO RESPONSE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. *TT *TR

102mo ago
Electrical 2

TAKATA RECALL......IVE BEEN ADVISED BY A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT SETTLEMENT NOTICE THAT MY VEHICLE MAY HAVE INFLATORS THAT ARE SUBJECT TO RECALL BUT I HAVENT HEARD ANYTHING FROM THE MANUFACTURER AS TO WHETHER MY SPECIFIC VEHICLE IS AFFECTED OR NOT. I WOULD LIKE TO BE CONTACTED TO KNOW WHETHER OR NOT MY VEHICLE NEEDS TO BE CHECKED OR REPAIRED.

105mo ago
Electrical 1

ON OCTOBER 25, 2017 I RECEIVED A LETTER ABOUT AIRBAG SAFETY RECALL FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF HIGHWAY SAFETY AND MOTOR VEHICLE REGARDING AN URGENT REQUEST FROM NISSAN MANUFACTURER CONCERNING SAFETY ISSUES AFFECTING MY VEHICLE. THERE INFORMATION RECEIVED FROM MY NISSAN 2002 SENTRA THAT IS CURRENTLY REGISTERED UNDER MY NAME. I AM FILING THE COMPLAINT TO VERIFY WHAT WILL BE MY NEXT STEP TO TAKE IMMEDIATE ACTION AND HAVE THIS ISSUE REPAIRED FOR FREE. I AM CONCERN FOR MY SAFETY !

105mo ago
Electrical 2

ON OCTOBER 25, 2017 I RECEIVED 2 LETTERS REGARDING A VEHICLE RECALL FOR MY NISSAN SENTRA 2002 CONCERNING ISSUES WITH MY AIRBAG THAT IS DEFECTIVE AM REPORTING THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE I WILL LIKE TO KNOW WHAT WILL BE MY NEXT STEP AND HOW CAN I FIX THIS ISSUE THAT CONCERNS ME.

105mo ago
Electrical 2

TAKATA RECALL CENTRAL HOUSTON NISSAN DEALERSHIP NUMBER (713) 661-9955 X 5355 IS BUSY, DOES NOT CALL ME BACK TO SCHEDULE BAG REPLACEMENT. NISSAN CUSTOMER CARE (KAYLA (615) 725-7543, CASE # 28688503) HAS NOT HELPED AND DOES NOT CALL ME BACK. I CALLED 1-888-327-4236 AND MADE A COMPLAINT, BUT HAVEN'T HEARD BACK.

106mo ago
Electrical 1

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN SENTRA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V287000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. CENTRAL HOUSTON NISSAN (2901 S LOOP W, HOUSTON, TX 77054, (713) 277-7566) WAS CONTACTED, BUT WAS UNABLE TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT DUE TO THE PARTS NOT BEING AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT. *BF CONSUMER STATED LEFT VEHICLE FOR UNSCHEDULED REPAIR 11/17/17 AT CENTRAL HOUSTON NISSAN. UPDATED 7/31/18*JB

106mo ago
Electrical 1

WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY CAR ENGINE SHUT OFF. IT DID THIS TWICE. THE SECOND TIME THE CAR WOULD NOT RESTART AS OF 7-29-2017

109mo ago
Body 2

THE CAR SHUT DOWN SOMETIMES WHEN I STOP IN A RED LIGHT. EVEN SOMETIMES INSIDE THE FREEWAY. WHEN ALMOST STOP. I BELIVE IS A MALFUNTION OF THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE ( ECM )

109mo ago
Engine 1

CAR HAS BEEN TURNING OFF A FEW TIMES WHEN BRAKE HAD BEEN PUSHING DOWN.(WHEN THE CAR HAD BEEN STOPPING)

110mo ago
Body 1

I'M NOT SURE IF THE ECM REPROGRAM THAT IS OUT FOR MY VEHICLE WILL REMEDY THIS BY THE DEALER REFUSED TO FIX IT BECAUSE I REFUSED TO PAY FOR A RECALL! I WAS TRAVELING LOW SPEED AND DECELERATING TO PULL INTO MY WORK AND THE CAR WENT INTO FAILSAFE MODE AND ALMOST CAUSED ME TO CRASH AND GET HURT IT WAS ALSO ON A CITY STREET WHEN I WAS DOWNSHIFTING PROBABLY ABOUT 5-10 MPH THEN I TRIED TO TURN AND THERE WAS NO POWER AND A TRUCK FROM BEHIND WAS FLYING UP ON ME AND BARELY SWERVED OUT OF THE WAY TO NOT HIT ME AND IT WAS A SUPER HUMID HOT DAY WHEN IT FIRST HAPPENED! I HAVE NEVER HAD A MAJOR PROBLEM ON MY CAR! IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN TAKEN CARE OF LIKE IT WAS ROYALTY! THE OBD11 READS P0605 CODE AND THE DESCRIPTION IS A ROM ERROR IT SAYS, LET ME STATE EVEN THOUGH MY CAR IS A 2002 IT ONLY HAS 28,750 MILES ON IT AND NEAR PERFECT CONDITION! I CAN ERASE THE CODE AND DRIVE IT THEN IT WILL GO INTO FAILSAFE MODE AFTER DRIVING FOR A FEW MINUTES! THE DEALERSHIP TRIED TO TELL ME THE ECU WAS FRIED AND TO BRING IT IN AND EXPECT A MINIMUM CHARGE OF A HOUR FOR THEM TO JUST GET MY CAR IN THERE BUILDING! THAT IS NOT RIGHT! I HAVE 2 RECALLS AND THAT IS ALL I WANT DONE! IF THE ECU WAS TRULY FRIED THEN THE CAR WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO START AT ALL! THE CAR ALSO SAT FOR MANY YEARS BUT WAS WELL PROPERLY STORED AND TAKEN CARE OF WHEN IT SAT!

111mo ago
Engine 1

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN SENTRA. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND INDEPENDENTLY ACCELERATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.

113mo ago
Electrical 1

CAR TURN OFF WHILE DRIVING. *TR

116mo ago

333 total

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